Cushion carrying case for syringe outfits and the like



Nov. 6, 1934- JIMMGREGOR 1,980,141

CUSHION CARRYING CASE FOR SYRINGE OUTFITS AND THE LIKE I Filed Feb. 6,1932 4 Inventor Joluz/ Maa'reyor Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES?cosmos CARRYING CASE FOR SYEINGE, ourrrrs AND THE LIKE I John MacGregor,Roslindale, Mass, assignor to MacGregor Instrument Company, Needham,

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts 1 Application February 6,

4 Claims.

The pocket case hypodermic outfits so generally used by the members ofthe medical and surgical professions have long presented probn lems tothe makers and users of such most im- 1 portant equipment.

. While not limited to such syringe outfits, the problems involved areso characteristic and the concept of my invention so applicable that Iselect such an outfit as an illustration. These sets for pocket or bagcomprise fragile members which must be held accessibly but firmly and.

so as to withstand the shocks and jars incidental to transportation aswell as those of accidental mishandlings due to emergency or haste.

These difficulties have been of common experience and various effortshave been made to hold such outfit parts as by metal clips or springs.These after necessary sterilizing have I rusted or broken so that suchoutfits have frequently been found damaged or inefiicient at the momentwhen dependability was the crucial factor.

' To make such an outfit in familiar arrangement to which the professionhas become accustomed in training and practice and yet to provide a newand safe basis for transportation and ready availability was theproblem.

This I have accomplished by the concept of a new factor which I socombine as to create a new outfit basis. Such may be variously embodiedbut in the form shown in the accompanying drawing I have produced anarticle of peculiar and particular value to professional needs.

As this embodiment has been immediately recognized as in itselfimportant, I will proceed to describe it as the best basis of disclosureof the principles involved. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an interior plan view of a typical hypodermic case opened.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 a similar section showing the tray partially removed.

Fig. 4 a section on a line indicated at 4-4, of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 5 a view of the tray removed.

In the outfit shown the parts are indicated as a glass syringe barrel Band plunger P. The so usual vials V and needles H in a holder H are soindicated.

1 have shown at 10 and 11 the halves or shells of a case. These may beof any material preferably rigid or relatively stiff and resistant asmetal, wood fibre or leather. Such may be 1932, Serial No. 591,342

hinged as at'12 and provided with a catchlor clasp 13.

As above stated such a typ e of case is merely illustrative. Many othertypes and different. shapes and sizes are in use in which syringeoutfits or other instruments or parts are desired to be held flexibly,but firmly. The usual metal clips lacked flexibility sufiicient' toadapt them to the various sizes ofthe parts, theyhad to hold.- There wasresultant loosening, rattling and breakage due to improper tension or.otherv mechanical failure of the spring clips or other metalattachments. There was a very great need for better protection of thecontents of such cases and for easier handling and sterilization.

To provide for supporting and handling of the outfit members simply andefficiently, I have conceived of a novel handling and supporting unit 1.Preferably this is a comparatively flexible but self-supporting traymolded so as to fit snugly with slight compression within one of theshell parts of the case so as to be readily removable and replaceable.It is formed with an upstanding rim 2 surrounding and laterallyprotecting the enclosed fragile parts. The rim 2 frictionally orcompressibly engages the edges of the shell member 10 in which it isshown as lodged, but from which it may be disengaged for removal by aslight fiexation.

Centrally or between its ends, the tray 1 is formed with a somewhatheavier member or holding portion 3 consisting of a web 4 having spacers5, defining notches or pockets 6 in which the parts are held centrallyor between their ends in spaced arrangement as at their upper edges thespacers 5 are formed with a bead 5 the sides of which overhang theadjacent notches or pockets 6 and so act to retain the part when inplace. This is made particularly effective because of the lateralcompression of the member 1 when in place in the shell or casing 10.

When the tray 1 is fitted with its parts it is a unit safe to handlewhen removed and completely protecting and cushioning the parts when inplace in the case or shell. It may be sterilized in assembly orindependently.

The holding function of the tray while preferably combined with itsother features is important in itself. My concept of a laterallycompressible rubber or like gripping retainer for the parts in such anoutfit may be variously used as its adaptability to differences in thesize or number of the parts held is useful in any combination. It may beformed as a unit or member independent or even permanently assembled inthe casing 10.

I have referred to rubber as a convenient material, but in the use ofsuch a term I am to be understood as including all like materials orcompoundswhich are suitably resilient and flexible as wellasself-sustaining.

While I have particularly described my' invention as embodied in ahypodermic set such is, as stated, illustrative and not limiting. The 1rubber cushioning member is preferably a tray unit but it may be asimple rubber rib or holder.

It is desirably removable for sterilizing reasons,

but might be permanently fixed.

Various modifications and variants can and will be obvious, but all suchare to be understood as included in my concept as defined by the claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by;

hang articles placed in said notches, said marginal rim and saidoverhanging edges guarding the contained articles from side and topinjury. 7

2. A carrying case for fragile articles comprising a relatively rigidcasing having an upturned rim and a rubbertray unit hayi awsimilarlyupturned rim which under compression *is closely held by said casing rimand which upon fiexation may readily be released from'said casing.

3. A carrying case for fragile articles comprising a relatively rigidcasing having an upturned rim and a unitary tray of compressiblecushioning material and of slightly greater dimensions than said casingwhich tray upon compression will lie within and be closely gripped bysaid casing.

4. A carryingcase for fragile articles comprising a'relativ'ely' rigidcasing having an upturned rim and -aremovable tray unit having anintegral upturned marginal cushioning rim which compressibly. is grippedby said casing rim when said trayis in place in said casing and whichupon fiexation may'readilyfbe releasedfromusaid casing, said trayincluding a-pluralityof article receiving members adapted to hold saidarticles between their ends,,said resilient rim providing a shockabsorbing protective wall ,for the-ends and sides of said articles Whilein saidcasingand a protective wall for said tray .andarticlesr heldtherein when removedfrom saidcasing.

, JOHN "MACGREGOR-

